House Training a New Pup

[carolhg]

I am collecting my new staffie pup on Monday. Having only ever had rescue dogs in the past, which were always trained, I would be really grateful if anyone could help with any tried and tested tips on house training. Any other useful puppy information will also be appreciated. He will be 8 weeks old when we collect him.

[smart1]

My brother got a Rottweiler pup last year. He tried the training pads, newspaper etc with only occasional success. He asked the vet what he should do, and it was suggested he buy a dog cage. He bought the biggest (on Ebay) and would put him in it at night (with a training pad) and if during the day he did it anywhere but the pad, he was put in the cage for 24hrs. Then started the process again until after 2-3wks he was fully trained. You have to be patient though. Hope this helps.

[wendilla]

My daughter trained her staffie with the pads but you still have to take them outside to learn to do there jobs as well or you will be buying these training pads forevermore.After a few weeks he soon learned .Another good tip which you already may know is keep taking his toys away from him and give them back same with any bones later and you will not have a problem taking things from him. He just sits and waits for you to give him it back which he knows you will do. Another tip don't put him in cage if he is naughty as that is his security place . Get a small mat just like the naughty step. I assure you it works.

[wendilla]

Also good luck with your Staffie .They are not what they are made out to be it is how they are brought up.All dogs can get a bad name if not brought up properly.

[woofgang]

housetraining is fast and easy if you do the no error method. Basically you take pup outside on waking, before and after eating if he wakes at night (keep him with you in box or crate) during exciting play and by default at about half hourly intervals while he is awake. If he has an accident indoors you wont get excited or angry it is because it is your fault not his. watch pup and you will earn what he does immediately before he goes (sniff the floor, walk in a circle, crouch and shuffle, go to a corner and so on) if you see that behaviour, cheerfully take him outside, carry at first then call him to go with you. If you carry, folding the tail in over his bum can help to "cork" him so you don't get peed on.
when you take pup outside, stay with him till he goes then praise lavishly and give a yummy treat. While he is out there, don't interact with him until he has gone, just stand calmly and wait. Once he is starting to get the hang of it, you cn add in a trigger word so that he will at least pee on request, its useful when taking him in the car or going out and leaving him when he is much older.
He will quickly get the hang of this and start to go to the door when he needs to wee/poo. Praise and encourage this but save the jackpot praise and treats for after he has been. Still take out very regularly as he won't be able to wait for long and still stay with him till he goes.
I do no error because i hate cleaning up mess. if you do get messes in the house, clean up thoroughly with a specialist product( I use zybax from advance burt you can get others) to get rid of the smell as the smell will make him think its where he should go. personally I think pads are a waste of money and confusing to pup as you are telling him its okay to go indoors then you have to tell him it isn't.

[woofgang]

"learn what he does" not "earn"

[Baldric]

Agree with woofgang, it worked for our two Dobies.

[NOX]

Can't add anything to what Woofgang has said, spot on advice:)

[lankeela]

Wowee, can't believe some of the terrible advice. Only woofgang has given the correct advice. Take them out often and stay out with them. Best place for them to sleep is in a crate or puppy pen near your bed, get up early and take them straight out. Its the staying out till they have gone that is the crucial thing. Puppies don't deliberately go indoors they just need to be allowed to go outside at every given opportunity. And as for putting a puppy in a crate for 24 hours to teach it - well I am gobsmacked at that one!

[B00]

in a crate for 24 hours??? Are you bloody kidding me? That's just too awful to contemplate!

[woofgang]

Yes Boo and once you have broken the pup's wired in taboo against going in the sleeping place then you are soooooo stuffed.

[jules77]

LOL at the advice given by smart1. So what would puppy do in the 24 hours he is confined to a cage? It is almost as bad as the advice often heard where you rub the puppies nose in its own wee!

As Lankeela has said, I take puppies to our bedroom, and never have any problem, they are usually house trained within the week. One puppy we had never ever did anything in the house from the day we bought her home at 8 weeks.

[wildchild]

I had a staffie puppy, he was very easy to house train, be consistent, I used puppy training pads, they worked, then gradually move them towards the back door, also obviously keep taking him out in the garden. Staffies are lovely little dogs, ours would bring us a shoe whenever we came in the door! Given the right love and attention they are prob one of the best kind of dogs you can get!

[RATTER15]

Smart1, I hope you never keep animals if you think that advice is acceptable and I really cant imagine any vet giving such advice!

and the dogs crate should never be a place used for punishment!!!!

[Frank97]

How on earth is putting a dog in a cage for 24hrs supposed to house train it is beyond me!

[chaptazbru]

smart1 - I'd like to put you and your brother in a cage for 24 hrs, see how you like it !!